Combination envelope



Feb. 3, 1959 E. c. SAUERMAN- 2,872,098

COMBINATION ENVELOPE Filed Oct. 20, 1955 IN V EN TOR.

ERNST C. SAUERMAN BY ATTORNEYS United States Patent G 2,872,098 COMBINATION ENVELOPE Ernst 'C. Sauerman, Chicago, Ill., assignor to Gaw-OHara Envelope Co., Chicago, 111., a corporation of Illinois Application October 20, 1955, Serial No. 541,701 1 Claim. (Cl. 229-72) The present invention relates to a combination envelope including a relatively large envelope having a compartment to receive parcel post, an express shipment or one class of mail and a relatively small compartment or envelope for another class of mail, such as an invoice, forwarding letter or other correspondence.

It is an important object of the present invention to provide a novel combination envelope formed of a single sheet of paper or fibrous material foldable in such manner as to provide a relatively large envelope and at one end thereof having a flap adapted to be folded onto the larger envelope to provide a relatively small envelope. This unique assembly may be cheaply and quickly produced and of a minimum of paper stock.

The present invention further provides a novel combination envelope and manner of producing the same of a single blank in which one side or face of the large envelope is extended to provide an end flap which is folded over the other side or face of the large envelope and aflixed thereto along two opposite edges to provide a smaller envelope, the free edge of the end flap being adhesively joined to the adjacent face of the larger envelope to seal the smaller envelope and protect its contents.

As the free or open end of the smaller envelope is not folded over to seal the contents of this envelope, to facilitate opening of this smaller envelope the opposite edges-thereof adjacent this end have an ungummed and unattached area whereby a letter opener, end of a pencil or other suitable instrument may be inserted to slit or open this smaller envelope and secure access to its contents.

Another feature of the present invention is the provision at the open end of the larger envelope of a tab or signal fiap adapted to be folded into this open end and over or into the contents of the larger envelope. This tab or signal flap preferably contains suitable printing or a message such as calling the recipient or addressees attention to the smaller envelope and/or its contents.

To facilitate an understanding of my invention and its advantages and novel features, a preferred embodiment of the same is illustrated in the accompanying drawing, in which Figure l is a plan view of my novel combination onvelope.

Fig. 2 is a View in vertical or longitudinal cross section taken in a plane represented by the line 22 of Fig. l and viewed in the direction of the arrows.

Fig. 3 is a view in perspective of the single blank of paper or suitable fibrous material forming both envelopes or compartments of my novel combination envelope, and showing the manner in which it is folded to form the relatively large envelope and the relatively small envelope when assembled as in Fig. 1.

Referring to the disclosure in the drawing in which is shown an illustrative embodiment, the present invention comprises a single blank of paper or suitable fibrous material formed as shown in Fig. 3 to provide a continuous wall section 10 forming or providing one face of the larger envelope and having an end flap 11 at its one or upper end and an end flap section 12 at its other or lower end providing a smaller envelope, the other wall of the larger envelope being formed of inturned side flaps 13 and 14 the latter provided with a tab 15 forming a signal flap.

The side flaps '13 and 14 when folded inwardly as shown in Fig. 3 to the assembled position of Fig. 1, have their respective longitudinal or vertical edges 16 and 17 disposed in overlapping, abutting relation where these edges are adhesively joined by gum or other suitable adhesive 18 applied to one or both of the overlapping edges 16 and 17.

After the side flaps 13 and 14 have been joined, the

end flap section 12 forming the smaller envelope or compartment 19 and a closure for the adjacent end of the larger envelope, is inturned or folded upwardly as shown in Fig. 3 with its opposite edges 21 and 22 adhesively joined along a portion of their length to the exterior of the side flaps 13 and 14 of the larger envelope or compartment 23. This smaller envelope 19 is provided with a window opening 24 covered by a transparency or window patch 25 for displaying the name and address of the recipient or addressee, or other information. At its upper or free end this end flap section 12 is provided with spaced, transversely extending and parallelly arranged folds 26 and 27, the end portion above the upper fold 27 providing a flap 28 that is gummed on its rear face for adhesively affixing this end portion or flap 28 to the adjacent face of the larger envelope. The-portion between the folds 26 and 27 and beneath the gummed flap 28 remains unattached to permit the insertion of a letter opener or other object to open the envelope 19 and secure ready access to the contents of this smaller envelope.

The upper tab or signal flap 15 is preferably folded into the opening of the larger envelope and over the contents thereof so as to help retain them and when the contents are withdrawn this tab or signal flap is also withdrawn and carries suitable notice to the addressee that something is sealed in the smaller envelope. The upper flap 11 may be folded into the open or upper end of the larger envelope to provide a closure thereat, or it may be provided with any suitable fastening means with which larger envelopes of this general type are equipped or sealed in any suitable manner.

From the above description and the disclosure in the drawing,-it will be apparent that the present invention comprehends a novel combination envelope that has numerous advantages, including economy in material, production and time resulting from its employment.

Having thus disclosed the invention, I claim:

A combination envelope comprising a sheet of fibrous material folded to provide a relatively large and a relatively small envelope integrally joined together for separately receiving dilferent classes of mail, said sheet being folded to provide a continuous wall having a pair of side flaps, a tab providing a signal fiap on the end of one of said side flaps adjacent the end flap providing the closure for the relatively large envelope and said signal flap being folded into the said relatively large envelope, a flap at one end and an end flap section at the other end, said side flaps being folded inwardly onto the continuous wall with the longitudinal free edge of said side flaps joined in overlapping relation to form with said continuous wall the two walls of said relatively large envelope, said end flap providing a closure for one end of said relatively large envelope and said end flap section providing a closure for the other end of said relatively large envelope and folded onto the side flaps and secured thereto to form the relatively small envelope, said end flap section rimmed Feb. 3, 1959 consisting of a single thickness of said sheet having a flap at its free end providing a Closure for the open end of the relatively small envelope, and spaced longitudinally extending spaced fold lines arranged adjacent and parallel to its flap with the opposite edges of the last mentioned flap and of the fold lines spaced inwardly of the longitudinal edges'of the relatively large envelope, the flap and the opposite edges of said end flap section being joined to the side flaps of the relatively large envelope except for the portion between said fold lines to provide a narrow opening between said fold lines at each of the opposite edges of said end flap section and between said opposite edges and-the spaced longitudinal edges of the References Cited in the file of this patent UNITED STATES PATENTS 704,153 Wagoner July 8, 1902 1,322,569 Hirsch Nov. 25, 1919 1,362,779 Chernieky Dec. 21, 1920 2,007,891 Dreisbach July 9, 1935 2,148,324 Sawdon Feb. 21, 1939 2,207,142 Berkowitz July 9, 1940 2,236,659 White Apr. 1, 1941 

